Content Advisory: Phobia Related Panic


Chapter Thirty-Four: Dorothy and the Dark

"Oh please, oh please don't hurt me or Toto!" Dorothy wailed as Elphaba shepherded her into the castle and up the stairs.

"Then you must do everything I say!" Elphaba said witchily, obscuring her own eye roll from behind Dorothy's back.

Elphaba ushered Dorothy into a tower room that she'd prepared as a holding cell complete with a canopied bed, breathtaking view, and various other comforts. The child could do a lot worse when it came to being imprisoned.

"You'll be sorry!" Dorothy stamped her foot. "Glinda the Good will come for me!"

"Yes, and how scary her bubbles will be," Elphaba deadpanned before slamming the door and locking Dorothy inside.

Chistery was waiting in Elphaba's witch tower for her and she gave him a conspiratorial nod.

"Got the girl. You and the others spread the word that Oz's golden child has been kidnapped. Mobs will be here by morning."

Chistery nodded and Elphaba gave him a pointed look.

"Y-yes Miss Elphaba," he said.

Elphaba nodded approvingly and patted him on the head.

"You must use every chance to speak, dear Chistery," Elphaba said fondly. "The other Monkeys look up to you. You'll need to set a good example when I've gone."

Chistery nodded and ambled over to Elphaba for a hug.

"Oh you sentimental thing," she sighed and hugged him back. "We cannot do this now, I cannot bear it."

Elphaba pulled out of the hug and Chistery hopped up on the windowsill. She stared at the horizon and bumped her shoulder against his.

"Don't tell the others but…I'm a little nervous to leave," she confided with an ashamed laugh. "After doing what I've done for so long I'm not sure what I'll…do. I can make peace that my work in Oz is done but I still want to do something. Does that sound silly? After everything that's happened?"

"No," Chistery shook his head. "Not silly."

"Then where shall Fiyero and I go?" she smiled, taking the Monkey's hand as she plotted her future. "Quox? Or perhaps Ev…see the ocean?"

"Badlands," Chistery said.

Elphaba looked at him and knitted her eyebrows. "The Badlands?"

"Animals in the Badlands. Miss Elphaba help," he nodded astutely. "Make good."

A smile stretched across Elphaba's face and she squeezed his hand.

"Thank you, my friend," she said, sparing a grateful kiss to the top of his head. "Now off with you, then. Go on."

Chistery took flight out of the fortress window and Elphaba watched as leagues of the other Monkeys followed him east.

"And then there was one."

Elphaba began calmly preparing for her future as she set the stage for her own demise. Curtains were open, buckets of water placed, and the trapdoor set. Elphaba knelt beside the hatch on the floor, marveling at how unassuming it was. She took a deep breath and yanked it open. The consuming darkness that confronted her made her drop the door with a shudder. She scrambled backwards and pulled her knees to her chest as she caught her breath.

A sudden wailing made Elphaba second guess herself. Was she crying? She checked her face to make sure. No, it wasn't her. But someone was crying. Loudly.

Elphaba groaned and covered her ears. The girl was distracting her with the hysterics. Elphaba began to pace again, trying to drown the pitiful sobs which only seemed to get louder.

"Oh for the love of—" Elphaba griped.

She poked her head into Dorothy's luxury cell with a huff.

"Stop crying!" Elphaba scolded. "It's giving me a headache."

"I-I'm sorry. I'm just so terribly frightened…and hungry."

"Glinda didn't give you any macaroons?"

"Huh?"

"Nothing," Elphaba caught herself. She watched the girl cry into Toto's fur and sighed heavily. "Sweet Oz just…stay here."

Elphaba grumbled to herself as she stalked downstairs and prepared her assassin a balanced plate of food.

"Here," Elphaba announced herself tightly. "Eat."

"I'm not eating anything made by you!" Dorothy accused.

"It isn't poisoned!" Elphaba groaned, taking a quick bite out of a bread roll to prove so. "See?"

She brought the tray over and set it on a table near Dorothy's bed.

"I'm even a decent cook, luckily for you. Now tuck in," Elphaba sighed, before tacking on a quick "or else."

Dorothy took a cautious bite all while staring at Elphaba.

"What? What are you staring at?" Elphaba snapped.

"Nothing!" Dorothy said quickly. "I'm sorry, I know it's not very nice to stare."

"You could just ask, you know," Elphaba said. "Nobody ever asks."

"Oh—um, well then, why are you…you know…"

"Green?"

"Yes."

"I have no clue."

"Oh," Dorothy raised her eyebrows.

"There, see? You've stopped crying," Elphaba pointed out. "Keep that up, please."

She began to exit but stopped as Dorothy piped up again.

"Wait!"

"What?!"

"I'm bored."

"You're bored?"

Dorothy nodded innocently.

Elphaba stared at her for a long moment before heaving a heavy sigh.

So this was how The Witch's story ended.

With babysitting.


"Do you have any threes?"

"Go fish."

Elphaba cackled as Dorothy threw her cards down in a frustrated pout.

"You've won every single game!"

"That's because I'm cheating," Elphaba revealed, flipping her cards around.

Dorothy gasped. "You cheater! That isn't fair!"

"Life isn't fair," Elphaba shrugged, stroking Toto's head as he snoozed peacefully on her lap. "You think this is how I wanted my life to end up? Playing cards with a twelve-year-old?"

"You are not a nice lady."

"No, I'm not. Never have been, really. But there's a difference, you see. There's a difference between nice and good. The sooner you're able to spot the difference the better."

"Auntie Em always taught me to be nice."

"Well is coming here to kill me very nice?" Elphaba posed. "Was breaking my broom?"

"That was for the greater good!"

Elphaba sized Dorothy up with an impressed sound.

"There may be hope for you yet, Dorothy," Elphaba mused as she boxed up the playing cards.

"I suppose I am sorry though…for breaking your broom," Dorothy mumbled.

"Thank you," Elphaba smiled sadly. "She served me well for many years…but all things must come to an end in their own time."

"I never wanted to kill you…or anybody!" Dorothy insisted. "All I want is to go home. Back to Kansas, back to Uncle Henry and Aunt Em…"

"You miss them, huh?" Elphaba said with an unwilling twinge of sympathy.

"With all my heart."

"Well…you can do what I do when I'm missing somebody."

"What's that?"

Elphaba handed Toto back to Dorothy and crossed over to the desk on the other side of the room. She set out a pen and parchment and tapped it with her finger.

"Write to them. Write to Aunt Em and Uncle What's-his-name. Write how much you miss them, how much you love them. Hear this, though," Elphaba advised as Dorothy crossed to sit at the desk. "Writing only gets you so far. When you see them again…make sure you tell them too. Out loud."

"You really think I'll see them again?" Dorothy sniffled.

"Yes. I really do."

Elphaba cleared her throat and Dorothy quickly offered her glass.

"Do you need some water?"

"Thank you." Elphaba extended her hand to accept before thinking better of it. "Ah—I mean no! I mustn't get near the dreaded water!" she recoiled, using the witchiest voice she could manage. Her shoulders slumped casually and her voice returned to normal as she nodded towards the paper. "Now go on, get to writing."

Dorothy frowned suspiciously, her eyes shifting between the glass of water and the pen and paper.

"Is it true?" Dorothy asked as Elphaba crossed to leave. Elphaba stopped in the doorway. "Everything they've been telling me about you. Is it…true?"

Elphaba turned and gave Dorothy a neutral look.

"Well, that's for you to decide. Isn't it?" Elphaba answered before reaching towards the dimmer switch. "Goodnight, Dorothy."

"Can—can you leave the lights on tonight?" Dorothy squeaked suddenly. "I'm…afraid of the dark."

Elphaba pulled her hand away from the switch with sudden, poorly concealed compassion.

"That's quite alright, dear," Elphaba said faintly. "So am I."


"A few hours. What's a few hours?" Elphaba, back to business, reminded herself as she paced.

She gritted her teeth and lowered herself before the trapdoor again, steeling herself before she slowly lifted it again. Darkness spilled out of it and she moaned in terror. She couldn't do it. She'd have to change the plan. They'd just have to keep running, she'd made it this far after all.

For him.

"No…" Elphaba audibly protested against her own mind's reasoning.

Not for me. Do it for him.

The phrase was a familiar one. When the fear of expressing her love for Fiyero had paralyzed her tongue, the gentle epiphany had warmly gifted her the courage she'd needed. She felt no boost in courage now, only a nagging reminder of the ordeal she must face. If she were alone, she'd rather spend the rest of her life being hunted than voluntarily crawl into the dark.

But she wasn't alone.

"For him. Not for me. Do it for him," Elphaba coached herself aloud. "No more running."

Elphaba watched her final dawn in Oz rise out of her tower window. She calmly watched as stampedes of witch hunters began to storm the drawbridge to rescue Dorothy, to kill The Witch. Elphaba straightened her hat and fastened her cloak, nodding towards her broken broom in the corner of the room.

"It's been quite a ride," she fondly thanked her broom. "But The Witch must die today…so that I may live."

Her Monkeys screeched up a storm as they flew circles around the towers, doing their part to create a menacing scene.

"For the love of Oz—let's get on with it!" Elphaba groaned as she paced impatiently in her tower. "Some of us have new lives to start around here!"

There was a great bursting sound and the witch hunters below cheered as the castle finally gave way. There were cries of triumph over breaking The Witch's 'defense spell' and Elphaba rubbed her temples tiredly.

"Nope. No defense spell. Just a regular door."

She'd practically paved a lighted path to her own destruction for these buffoons but they still managed to botch their own witch hunt. It didn't do wonders for Elphaba's pride that the hunters thought they were actually succeeding in besting The Witch on their own. If Elphaba had wanted to keep them out the mob wouldn't have so much made it into The Vinkus let alone into the castle. After an incompetently long time, Elphaba heard a band of people reach Dorothy's unlocked cell to free her.

Elphaba stood, brushed off her dress, and straightened her hat just before they burst into her tower. A noisy mob ceremoniously pushed Dorothy towards the front to face The Witch as they cowered behind. Dorothy's wide eyes met Elphaba's and she froze, as if forgetting what she was supposed to do next. Elphaba sighed inwardly and discretely nodded her head towards the bucket of water.

"Oh no!" Elphaba squealed. "Please don't splash that bucket of water—the one sitting in the corner to your left—your other left, Dorothy—on me! Anything but that!"

The crowd egged Dorothy on as she lifted the bucket, but Elphaba watched as the young girl hesitated in conflicted confusion. Their eyes met again and Elphaba assured Dorothy with a subtle, private wink. Go for it.

Cool water suddenly splashed Elphaba head to toe and she released a bloodcurdling cry. She'd put on shows before, but she put on a show, stretching her wickedness to the full extent of her ability as she dramatically melted before their eyes. Dorothy's worried expression was the last thing The Witch saw before wasting clean away.

However, as The Witch was declared dead above, Elphaba's true horror began below.

Commotion and cheers rang out just above her head as Elphaba's hands clung to a flimsy ladder on the wall of the pit. She chanced a peek through her eyelids but quickly slammed them shut, quite literally biting her tongue to refrain from yelping and giving away her location. The thinnest margins of light streamed through the cracks in the hatch and she ached to stay close to them, no matter how feeble they were. Still, even in her heightened state she knew that was not an option. The rickety ladder would likely not hold her weight for long.

She couldn't do this halfway. She'd have to venture further, venture deeper, into the dark.

But as her brain willed herself to move down the rungs, Elphaba's body disobeyed. She froze, her limbs having solidified to stone, unblinking and unbreathing as her courage failed.

The squeak from the weakened wood beneath her feet urged her to make a decision, and to make it fast. It felt desperately tempting to simply ascend the ladder, to burst free with a cackle and enlighten people of her trick. Carrying on with the life she'd grown accustomed to seemed an attractive trade for the unknown that awaited her below.

For him! Elphaba's mind screamed its mantra before she could give up. For him. Do it for him.

"No," she whispered in resignation. "Not even for him."

Fear had squeezed her heart harder than it ever had before. She didn't have a lantern to soothe her, nor Fiyero to hold her, she had only her own willpower…and her willpower was weak. She pressed a trembling palm against the trapdoor, the end to her terror right at her fingertips, but her muscles did not stretch to open it.

No. Elphaba couldn't do this for him…not only for him

But she could do this for them.

Drawing from reserves of resolve she didn't know she had, Elphaba endeavored the impossible as she uneasily eased herself down the rungs of the ladder towards the unforgiving dark.

For the lonely pen pals who'd felt known for the first time through letters. For the boy with the cart and the girl who demanded an apology. For the foes stuck too close together in a closet. For the students racing each other to class. For the friends standing broken hearted in the rain. For the new lovers sharing kisses by lantern light. For the couple dancing in an empty OzDust. For The Witch and the prince yearning from afar. For the run-aways in the cave. For the partners vowing to take each other in safety and in danger.

For the strangers.

For Fae and Yero.

For Elphaba and Fiyero.

For them.

Elphaba's boots touched down at the bottom of the pit and, right on cue, her breath started quickening in panic. Her eyes were stretched wide, darting in all directions for any sign of light…but she was too far down.

"Close your eyes," Fiyero's disembodied voice reminded from within her mind.

She squeezed her eyes shut tight and pressed her palms against the stone wall, her teeth chattering from her cold, damp clothes.

"Breathe, Fae."

She inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled shakily out through her mouth.

"I'm right here."

"No, you're not," Elphaba negated hoarsely. "I'm alone. I'm all alone."

"I'm coming for you. Hold tight, Fae."

Time began to unravel as Elphaba whiled away in frightful limbo. Had hours passed…minutes? Days? Years? Perhaps the melting had been real and she'd perished in actuality. The longer the dark consumed her, the louder her doubts became.

Perhaps something had delayed Fiyero…or worse. With nothing to stimulate her mind besides fear, it was impossible not to imagine the unimaginable.

Or perhaps… her mind taunted. Perhaps he's not coming at all.

"No…" Elphaba ground her teeth, forcing the intrusion away. "He's coming."

Perhaps this has all been an elaborate setup. Perhaps he doesn't love you. Perhaps he never did.

Perhaps you really are all alone.

Elphaba pressed her back against the stone wall and folded her hands over her heart with a woeful shake of her head. No. Fiyero had proven himself time and time again. He had never failed her, he would not fail her now.

There was a sudden banging from up above and Elphaba clapped her hands over her mouth to bite back a shriek.

Then, a voice.

"It worked!"

In a moment so surreal she questioned her own skepticism in the divine, a flood of life-giving light spilled into the pit. Elphaba let out a dry sob to see her husband waiting at the top extending his hand to her.

Fiyero had come…and he'd brought the light back with him.

"Fiyero!"

Elphaba scrambled madly up the ladder, rungs snapping beneath her feet the higher she got. It didn't matter. She would not be going back. Elphaba's hand seized Fiyero's and he pulled her out of the trapdoor and into the safety of his embrace.

"Oh Fiyero…I thought you'd never get here."

Fiyero took her face in his hands and pressed desperate, relieved kisses to her forehead. Despite Fiyero's bruises and Elphaba's tremors, they helped each other to their feet and pulled each other into a long, healing hug.

"You came."

"I came," he murmured against her hair. "I'm here."

He smoothed the cold, damp hair out of Elphaba's face and awarded her with a triumphant kiss.

"You did it, Fae." He kissed her again with gratitude. "You did it. I knew you could."

"Don't you ever make me do that again," Elphaba breathed.

"There will never be a need. Oh, Elphaba. I promise you…" Fiyero cupped her face in his hands. "Our future is bright."

As their elated breath evened out, Elphaba let out an ironic chuckle.

"So…what now?"

"Now…" Fiyero shrugged. "We find out what's next."

Elphaba spared a glance to her pointed witch hat that was left on the ground from the melting and she took it in her hands.

"What is it?" Fiyero asked, catching her glance.

"Perhaps we should leave a final note…" Elphaba thought aloud. "A letter for—"

"It's too risky. Anyone could find it," Fiyero reminded gently.

Elphaba nodded, her hands bunching the brim of her hat.

"You're right."

They gathered the few belongings they'd seen fit to pack ahead of time and quietly stole out of the castle. Elphaba's eyes glanced every few moments to the sky and Fiyero took her hand to give it a comforting squeeze. When the castle was near out of sight Elphaba paused to take a long, last look as the sun set in the western sky.

"What is it, Fae?"

"I'm sorry, it just feels so—incomplete," she sighed cryptically, The Grimmerie weighing heavily in her bag. "Our time here. It's incomplete."

"I know it's hard to leave."

"That's not it. I just feel like there's…" she shook her head. "One last thing."

"What thing?"

A sudden popping sound caused Elphaba and Fiyero to jolt. Elphaba turned and a beaming smile spread to her lips.

"That," Elphaba pointed ahead. "That's the last thing."

"Fiyero! Elphie! Oh, Elphie!" Glinda gasped, shaking soapy suds off of her ballgown as she trampled their way. "Thank Oz I caught you in time!"

"Glinda lower your voice! I'm supposed to be dead!" Elphaba said, her scolding tone undercut by the joy on her face.

"Not anymore, Elphie!" Glinda said.

"What do you mean?" Fiyero frowned.

"The Wizard is leaving Oz! Morrible is in prison!" Glinda celebrated. "Don't you see? I've fixed it, I've fixed everything!"

"They're what?" Elphaba's jaw dropped. "Last we heard it was you headed for prison. Morrible had you on the hook!"

"Yes, she did. But then I realized who actually held the power over the people," Glinda boasted.

"How did you get them to turn against her?" Fiyero asked.

"Oh, Fiyero, Elphie. Sweeties. They liked Morrible…" Glinda flourished her arms out in a majestic gesture. "But they love me."

"But—"

"It's like I've been saying this whole time," Glinda grabbed Elphaba's shoulders and gave her a dramatic shake. "It's all about pop-u-lar!"

"Well, I'm thrilled, Glinda," Elphaba said with a faint laugh. "Oz is in much better hands with you."

"Duh, Elphie. But so are you! Now that I'm in charge I'll tell everybody everything. I'll clear your name—both of your names!"

"Glinda—" Elphaba interjected.

"Oh, they'll be cheering for you in no time, Elphie! Wait and see!"

"Glinda—"

"It's the happy ending we've been waiting on!"

"Glinda," Elphaba said calmly, taking both of Glinda's hands in her own.

Glinda finally looked her best friend in the eye and her face fell in understanding.

"You're still leaving…aren't you?"

"Yes, Glinda. We're still leaving," Elphaba confirmed softly.

Glinda's lower lip began to tremble and she released Elphaba's hands.

"B-but—" Glinda faltered, folding her arms around herself in a teary pout. "I don't understand. I've fixed it, Elphie. I can help. I can make things right."

"Yes, you can," Elphaba agreed before solemnly shaking her head. "But not completely…and not for us. I don't need the cheers or glory, Glinda. I don't need you to clear my name. I only need to know that the Oz I'm leaving is a little better than the one I was born into. That's enough. That's enough for me."

"But what about what you've always wanted, Elphie? What about your dreams?"

"I've wanted a lot of things throughout the years, but what I really wanted, what I've always wanted, was not to be alone. I wanted love, acceptance…friends," Elphaba expressed meaningfully, placing a hand against Glinda's cheek.

Glinda choked out a sob and began weeping freely as Elphaba took both of her hands and gave them a comforting squeeze.

"It's alright, Glinda. Everything is as it should be," Elphaba assured her. "We're excited, Glinda. We're excited for what's out there for us. I'm excited to find something worthwhile to do, even if it's small. I'm excited for the chance to be…anonymous."

Elphaba quirked an ironic smile at her own word choice. How funny that after everything she'd gone through…she longed for anonymity once more.

She'd once remained anonymous as a way of hiding who she was. Now she craved it again for the chance to be who she is. She had people in her life that knew her for who she was, and through their love Elphaba knew that she could never truly be unknown. She could never be truly anonymous in the ways it mattered.

"Here, I want you to have this," Elphaba realized. She pulled The Grimmerie out of her bag and humbly turned over the last piece of The Witch into Glinda's safekeeping. "I won't be needing it anymore."

"Oh, Elphie."

"Be good, Glinda," Elphaba said with a sad, ironic smile. "Do all you can for Nessa, spoil Chistery, and—oh…make sure Dorothy knows that she did nothing wrong. See that she gets home safe. Okay?"

"Okay, Elphie."

Elphaba handed Glinda the book and felt her own eyes mist as the goodbyes sunk in.

"Come here," Elphaba mumbled, pulling Glinda into a long, heartfelt hug. She rubbed her back and buried her face into Glinda's sequined shoulder. "I love you, Glinda."

"I love you too, Elphie."

Elphaba pulled out of the hug with a chuckle over her own tears. They'd come to her far easier than they used to. Fiyero came forward and collected Glinda in a fierce hug of their own and Glinda fell into a fresh wave of sniffles. Too soon after, when there were no more farewells to bid, Elphaba took a breath and gave Fiyero a meaningful look. She extended her hand towards him.

"Follow me, Yero?"

He slid his hand into hers.

"Anywhere."

The pair turned and began taking their first steps towards their new life, only to stop when they heard Glinda call after them weakly.

"Wait! There's…there's one last problem."

"What's that?" Fiyero asked.

Glinda folded her hands over her broken heart as she looked upon her truest friends.

"How much I'm going to miss you both."

"Well…whenever you miss us you know what to do," Elphaba said.

"What?" Glinda sniffed.

Elphaba and Fiyero gave each other a knowing look before offering Glinda advice that had served them well for many years.

"Write to us."